Cele Praises SAPS For Ensuring SA’s Safety During Polls

JOHANNESBURG – Police Minister Bheki Cele said a number of arrests had been made in connection with various crimes during last week’s elections.

The justice, crime prevention, and security cluster held a briefing reflecting on security matters during the sixth general elections.

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Twenty-two suspects had been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and one in Gauteng for attempting to vote twice.

Cele said protests in Vuwani were a key concern where members of the Pro-Makhado Demarcation task team threatened people who wanted to vote.

“The key mitigating factor was the arrest of the spokesperson of the PMDTT on the eve of elections. Mr Arnold Mulaudzi was arrested on charges of contravening Section 87 sub one subsection A, paragraph two and three of the Electoral Act.”

He said apart from the cases of double voting, there were other arrests in KZN and in the Eastern Cape.

“Sixteen people were found guilty in one case in KwaZulu-Natal in Mondlo on charges of defacing and removing a billboard. In the Eastern Cape, 14 suspects were charged with public violence and sentenced to three months imprisonment.”

Cele commended the South African Police Service for ensuring the safety of South Africans as they exercised their right to vote.